The things we remember, the things we forget . . .

We got a package today from Nordstrom which contained a pair of pajama pants that Bassam had ordered from the Anniversary Sale.  Oh, the Anniversary sale!  How I love thee!  Anyway, when he spotted them on the bed, he said, "My pajama pants came!  It's pajama time."

Then without thinking, I started to recite the words to the Susan Boyton book, "Pajama Time" that was a favorite book of Matt & Gracie's. When Matt was a baby, we kind of turned it in to a song and we read it almost nightly. 

Really.   Every.  Single.  Night, y'all!

The moon is up, It’s getting late. Let’s get ready to celebrate. 

It’s Pajama Time! 

Pull on the bottoms. Put on the top. Get yourself set to pajama-dee-bop

It’s Pajama Time! 

Now, some are old and some are new. Some are red and some are blue. Some are fuzzy. Some are not. But we can all pajammy in whatever we’ve got.

It’s Pajama Time! 

Ooooo yes, it’s Pajama Time! 

Some are pink and some are green. Some are the ugliest you’ve ever seen. They might be stripey, or polka dot. But we can all pajammy in whatever we’ve got.

It’s Pajama time! 

Pajammy to the left. Pajammy to the right.  Everybody’s wearing them for dancing tonight.

Now all around the room in one big line, wearing our pajamas and looking so fine. 

It’s Pajama Time! 

Hop into bed. Turn off the light. You can have a party in your dreams tonight. 

IT’S PAJAMA TIME!

I can't remember to buy Bassam a new comb at Target (3 trips to the store later, he finally ordered one from Amazon.  Ha ha!) or sometimes why I've gone upstairs, but I can remember every word to a book that I haven't read in 9 years.  

It's Pajama Time! 

Music choices

I opened the door tonight to call Gracie in for dinner (who of course was playing in THE DARK since it was 5:20) and discovered she and her pal, Jo Jo, playing on the driveway with music blaring. What were they listening to?   "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton.

She is so my kid.

A nice Bordeaux to go with those pronouns . . .

Y'all, I may not be much of a wine drinker, but I love, love, LOVE this video!

Who is more frustrated on any given school night . . . the kid doing the homework or the parent desperately trying to relearn the material so they can teach it to said kid?

Cheers!

Which is it?

Here is a text I sent my husband this morning . . . .

Not sure if this is a sign that I am losing my mind or that I just really hate this car, but I was sitting in front of Learning Express almost in tears because the car wouldn't start. I felt like I had the worst luck ever. Then I realized I was hitting the button to turn on the radio and not the ignition button.

Welcome to my world. 

It's a Wellness Center, not an OB/GYN office!

Just finished up my second day as a volunteer for JA Biztown with the 5th graders at the kids' school.   I was assigned to the Wellness Center, where the staff of 8 (all girls) were responsible for check-ups for all residents of Biztown, issuing insurance cards, collecting insurance premiums from the other businesses and selling backscratchers and stress balls (which they made with balloons and rice).  Our goal was to make our business debt free by the end of day two.   Everyone in the company had different jobs from CEO and CFO to nutritionist and health care managers.   And of course, part of their job was to manage their checkbooks, open savings accounts and be consumers, so the other 12 companies could also be financially solvent.

By early afternoon, our company was out of debt and we had sold ALL of our products.  This left us with some down time in our "office," which consisted of a couple desks, computers, chairs, scale and an exam table.  At one point, a couple of the girls were sitting on the exam table and pulled out the stirrups at the end of the table.

"What are these for?"

Ummmmmm.

I started to sputter out a super-vague answer, which of course led to more questions.   Rapid fire questions. 

"I wouldn't worry about it now.  Let's just keep them pushed in, okay?"

And with that, I walked out of the room!

NCIS mystery solved!

After 2 and 1/2 years (or however long we've had DISH Network...it's probably longer!), I finally solved a mystery on my DVR had completely stumped me. 

My favorite show is NCIS.  My husband thinks this is hilarious and calls it "old people TV," but the truth is he grew to like it and regularly watches it with me.  I guess that makes us both old!  Anyway, since it comes on at 7 pm on Tuesdays when we are busy with our kids,  finishing up homework and getting them for bed, I record it on our DVR and we watch it later.  

So here's where the mystery comes in.   Around the same time I set up the DVR to record new NCIS episodes, I noticed I also started recording some money show on Fox News.   Needless to say, that's not usually my go-to channel or a show I would even watch, so I was completely mystified.   There was no timer created for the show.   I tried deleting all my timers and setting them again.  But it just kept recording it every day. 

And then today as I was cleaning off the DVR, I figured it out. Finally. 

I had set the DVR to "seek and record" new episodes of NCIS.   And the annoying Fox show I was recording was called "MONEY with Melissa Francis." 

It also explains why I have randomly found shows with San Francisco in the title on my DVR as well.

Mystery solved!   And DISH would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for Leroy Jethro Gibbs and those meddling kids!

What's in a name?

Yesterday we went to the last Vanderbilt game of the regular season.   Vandy beat Wake Forest in what was a surprisingly competitive game.   Sad to say goodbye to a great group of seniors!

The player in the gold jersey is our future quarterback (a redshirt freshman)....Johnny McCrary.  As such, he helps communicate plays to our current quarter back on the field.   As our seats are right behind the Vandy bench, I saw his back for much of the game and all I could see was . . . .

McCrap

And I laughed every time.

What are those things you cut with called?

Is it wrong that I realized today that Matthew pronounces the word scissors, "zizzors," and have found 12 reasons for him to say it because I think it's so funny? 

When not entertaining myself with that, I spent the day taking Matthew to his new golf class, having lunch with Bassam and the kids at The Dog of  Nashville (he's on call, boo!), some hunting for a dining table for the porch and playing outside with the kids.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and we tried to enjoy as much of it as we could!

Sleep tight?

We're expecting heavy storms tonight (remnants of the flooding in Chicago?), so I just went upstairs to check on the kids, make sure their windows were closed and doors open so I could hear them (specifically the redhead) should she wake up scared because of the thunder.

When I walked in to Matthew's room I was surprised and amused to find this . . .

Seriously!??  Who sleeps like this?

Monster Mash!

Gracie was perusing the blog archives and was delighted to find this Halloween JibJab we made back in October 2010 was still live, even though it was supposed to only be good for 60 days!  Hysterical!! 

Click here to see what else was going on that month!

CRAZY!

This week has been all kinds of crazy.  I've felt like a chicken running around with my head cut off for the last three days.

Don't get me wrong, the craziness will be worth it because I'm headed to Kansas tonight to see my besties, Dana and Amy for a weekend of fun, friendship and shopping.   

But in the meantime, I find myself scratching my head trying to figure when and why my week got so nutty.   Is it simply trying to get 5 days of things in 4 days?  Is there a full moon (actually, that might explain some of the big time crazy at yesterday's PTO meeting)?   Or maybe I just create my own craziness because I don't think the family will survive without me.

Incidentally, the dog is questionable on surviving. Ever since I brought the suitcase in to our room to pack he has stuck to my leg like glue.

Crazy glue, of course. 

Before I sign off, let  me share something I spotted in Gracie's room a few minutes ago when I was putting her laundry away . . .

A bench with a blanket, pillows, stuffed animals, toy phone and . . . . wait . . . . what's that?

CRAZY!

Double take

I noticed this license plate on the car next to me in the TJ Maxx parking lot today.  I had to look at it twice  and even then I wasn't sure if it was truly the cynical message that I read.    

Yeah . . . it made me laugh and obviously stop and take a picture (again, love the iPhone camera).   Not laughing the idea of bad (or not GRT!) schools . . . just the sentiment of paying extra for this particular specialty plate and putting these letters on it it.

Of course, if this just happens to be the driver and his/her spouse's initials, it's a very funny coincidence.

The Claw

I took the kids bowling today and was totally fascinated by this guy at "The Claw" machine.

Apologies for the bad iPhone picture.   He wasn't super close and I was trying to be stealthy.

If I had to guess, this guy was in his 70s.   He must have put at least 8 bucks in to the machine and came out with 5 different prizes when all was said and done.   I snapped this picture of one of his buddies guarding his loot (okay, casually sitting by his loot) when he was chasing his fourth prize.  I must admit, the Scooby Doo doll is kinda cute.

While I admire his skill with The Claw, I was left to wonder if he was purely doing it for the "sport " of it or did he have some kind of obsession with collecting what I'm sure are less-than-plush stuffed animals?  And why when you're meeting up with your pals (2 of whom were dead ringer for the Bartles and James guys--wish I had gotten their picture!)  for a morning of bowling, would you leave the lanes to pursue it? 

"Crafty" mom

I put "crafty" in quotations for two reasons. 

First, because  as I was sitting doing a craft with the redhead this afternoon the following conversation unfolded:

G: Mommy, can we have "popsicles"?   *accenting her question with air quotes*

Did she just do air quotes?

Me:  Where did you learn "that"  *also air quoting*

G:  "Phineas and Ferb.  Candace does it."
  

Of course.  All roads lead back to Phineas and Ferb.  This particular road led to my rather futile attempt to explain how air quotes are used and then her proceeding to misuse them repeatedly for the next 45 minutes. 

Why do I bother?

The second reason for using "crafty" as part of my title today is due the nature of my craft activities.

While Matthew was off with a friend most of the afternoon (and unfortunately, not knowing exactly when he would return, I was saddled to the house), I played the role of Chief Entertainment Officer for my daughter.   First, Gracie and I made one of those Perler Fun Fushion Bead craft kits.  I'm sorry, but crafts that involve using your iron just can't be that fun.   I barely iron my own clothes, so I'm sure not super excited about the opportunity to make a plastic replica of Clifford the Big Red Dog, with some red beads and my Rowenta.   

Once realizing she wasn't going to get to do the "fun" part  (the ironing--incidentally a good place for air quotes, right?), we moved on to our next venture in craftiness.   Yes, it was time for Shrinky Dinks.  We made an entire package of Shrinky Dinks and then turned them into 4 bracelets.  While was Gracie was delighted to color the paper and watch them curl up and shrink in the oven, she was slightly less helpful when we got to jewelry making time.   She adopted the role of "lead designer" and instructed me on how the bracelets should look and let me string them, add extra charms with jump loops and tie a zillion knots.  

So, in short,  while I was "crafty" today, it was a decidedly 6 year old kind of craftiness. 

Hence the air quotes, right?

Mom/Bird of the Year

Although this blog is chock full of anecdotes of why I will not win the "Mother of the Year" award, I did something on Friday that according to at least 5 other mothers just might put me back in the running.  

Yes, that's me.    Once again donning a furry red suit for the sake of my kids and their school.    But instead of Clifford, I was KC Cardinal---the school mascot.  Friday was the annual "Fun Run" and as of Thursday, they had still not found anyone to don the red feathers/fur.   So from 12:30-2:45 in 85 degree heat, I put it on (minus the cardinal feet, running shoes seemed like a much more appropriate choice for the occasion!) and cheered, danced, gave high fives and yes, even jogged with the kids as they completed their 30 minute runs.

Mom of the Year?   Probably not.  But despite being soaked in sweat, I actually had fun.  And my kids grinned ear to ear keeping the secret that it was their mom dressed as KC.
  

Accessories make the woman

I was volunteering up at school today and one of Matthew's buddies complimented me on my bracelet.   Without looking down, I said, "Thank you!"

It was about 10 minutes later that I glanced down and realized it probably wasn't my silver heart bracelet with the kids' names on it that he was admiring. 

Matthew got this Angry Birds "slap bracelet" in his Easter basket and I took it from him earlier when he was slapping it over-zealously on his sister's arm. 

And clearly, I forgot to take it off.  

Comic Relief . .. .

We had a much needed humorous moment this morning at breakfast when the kids were both asking for something at the same time the dog was doing the "I-gotta-go" dance around the back door. 

Completely frustrated,  I said, "Give me a second, you guys!  How many Mommies are there here?"  

Gracie looked up and as serious as could be said, "Two."

Way to make the double vision work for you, kiddo!

Expired!!!

How often do you check the expiration dates on the food in your house? I think we're pretty careful about it, although occasionally, we'll pull out a rarely used condiment (think cocktail sauce) and realize it's past it's "used by" date. And okay . . . every now and again I'll discover an open bag of shredded cheese that has gotten pushed to the back of deli drawer. "Aged" cheese just doesn't cut it for tacos, you know?

At my parents today as I attempted to "healthy up" my pizza dinner with a salad, I discovered that EVERY ONE of their bottles of salad dressing was expired. This includes the new, never-opened bottles in their pantry. Does Italian really go bad? I don't know. But I wasn't about to find out. After I finally stopped laughing, I rounded up each and every bottle and chucked them out.

Why do they have so much salad dressing? I don't know.  It is probably related to the fact that the two of them only started shopping in bulk at Costco since they became empty-nesters.  Because 2 people need 120 rolls of toilet paper and 20 pounds of rice!   And maybe they aren't eating as much salad as they should either!!

I'm not going to tell you how many bottles there were, nor how old some of them were.  Should you be lucky enough to have an invitation to eat at my parents, you should definitely accept it despite this anecdote (which still makes me giggle as I type this).  Just remember, salad dressing is not wine. . . . older is not better (and should not pre-date your youngest child).

Seriously in need of an ark . . . .

The rain is coming down again/still ---just as hard as yesterday. Any water that had receded is back where it was, if not higher. Electricity and water service are out in various parts of Nashville and the surrounding area. School has already been cancelled for tomorrow.

I tried to take some pictures from our house, but can't seem to do the situation justice. WSMV has posted some new slide shows HERE.

We are praying for those in harm's way and our friends who have been evacuated from their homes.

On a completely unrelated note, my mom sent me the most hysterical email earlier today. No permission from her to share it here, but I'm 37, what is she going to do? Ground me? Anyway, it totally made me laugh out loud--which was much needed today.

I see they found an explosive device along the marathon route in Pittsburgh. I knew there was a reason I don't run. I do not understand what in the world is happening, and why people do things like this. Well, I think I do, but I think they are unbalanced to put it nicely.
Mom

Just eat your peas . . . .

We have yet another snow day tomorrow. It was partly sunny and around 40 today, but that wasn't enough to melt the mess off the secondary roads. So at 4:00 this afternoon we got the call that school was cancelled tomorrow. Sigh.

If it hadn't been a recording, I swear I would have volunteered to whoever was calling to pick up any kids who couldn't make it in.

Upon hearing the news, Matthew said, "How am I going to learn anything if I can't go to school?"

Instead of reminding him of all the wonderful things that Mommy and Daddy teach him right in our own house, I nodded sympathetically, because I want him to go back to school as badly as he does.

Okay, that sounds bad. I love hanging out with them more than anything. And summer vacation is a blast in my opinion. I think my angst is a combination of 2 days of not being able to get out because the weather was so awful, Bassam being MIA all weekend, and until today, our big trips out of the house were via sled. And today, it was just soggy so we couldn't sled anyway.
After surviving the day, I happily sat down to dinner to enjoy a yummy bowl of white chicken chili with my family. We talked about our day and one by one, we all finished eating. As usual, Gracie was the last one sitting -- trying to figure out how she could get out of eating her peas. As I watched her store a spoonful in her cheek for some 3 minutes, I asked,

"Gracie, are you trying to make Mommy mental?"

She smiled and said, "No Mommy, I want to make you happy."

Sometimes it doesn't feel that way, but I like the sentiment.